Mackay tips Academy to stay in the title race
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SAM Mackay is taking nothing for granted when Wick Academy travel the West Highland Way to visit a team which they scored against 11 times in two league matches last season.
Fort William once again find themselves at the bottom of the table which they have become accustomed to in recent seasons.
Despite an 8-1 victory at Harmsworth Park and a 3-1 win at Claggan Park during the 2011
Still smarting from an extra-time defeat to Nairn County in the AJG Parcels North of Scotland Cup final in Inverness last Saturday, Mackay said that the team is looking for three points this weekend to continue their fine form in the league.
Currently sitting third in the Highland League four points behind leaders Cove Rangers with three games in hand, he said that the Caithness club have a genuine chance of mounting a serious title challenge.
“What last season showed is that the balance of power is definitely moving northwards as Forres Mechanics proved when they won the league last season,” he said.
“It is definitely within our reach and teams such as ourselves and Nairn County are the form sides in the Highland League.
“North teams are definitely on the up and there is no reason due to the way we are playing that we can be in the mix at the top at the end of the season. Fort William is a place where we seem to struggle and to get three points will be a tough task.
“But if we do we will be delighted whatever the score as it is a tough place to go.”
Fort William once again find themselves at the foot of the table but their performances have been much improved compared to 12 months ago.
Despite only having one point to their name, it was picked up against Keith in an impressive 1-1 draw at Kynoch Park in September.
The west Highland outfit have also impressed in their last two matches, going down 3-1 to Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park and were unlucky in a 1-0 home defeat against Huntly, despite dominating the majority of the match.
Manager Danny Conlon said that there was more grit about his club this season, saying that having a consistent squad available every week has made a difference.
He said that Wick are one of the best footballing sides he has seen in the league, but after a string of impressive performances, he did not rule out the possibility of Fort William picking up its first win of the season.
“We now have a group of 16 players who are available to us every match day compared to last season when we made around five changes every game and it has made a huge difference,” he said. “This season I am picking only players who will be able to play on match days and it has led to better organisation at the club. We still have a long way to go in terms of being competitive.
“However the signs are there that things are improving and our aim for the end of the season is for the club as a whole to make progress.
“We got a right doing the last time we played at Harmsworth Park but we’ve had decent results in the last few weeks and the effort that they put in so hopefully our good form can continue.
Ryan McDonald is out for Fort William after picking up a foot injury along with Gary Farquhar and goalkeeper Jay Smith who will be missing for the hosts.
